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ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN COPIES 
OF THIS PRIVATE EDITION HAVE BEEN 
PRINTED ON ALEXANDRIA VELLUM 
FROM COMPOSITION DONE BY THE 
PHILOPOLIS PRESS, SAN FRANCISCO, 
THE TYPE AFTERWARDS DISTRIBUTED 



This copy is Number 



Retracing the Pioneers 




MISSION DOLORES, SAN FRANCISCO 

' 'our starting point" 



Retracing the Pioneers 



FROM WEST TO EAST 
IN AN AUTOMOBILE 



BY 



HUGO ALOIS TAUSSIG 




PRIVATELY PRINTED 
SAN FRANCISCO, 1910 






Copyright by 
1910 




To My Friends 

J|F I have failed to devote space in the following pages 
^^ to descriptions of the country we travelled through 
and the people we met, it must not be inferred that we 
were unobserving. The truth is, that crossing the Ameri- 
can Continent affords one but little variety of incident. As 
for the people we met, I can truthfully say that we met 
no Indians on our way across the Continent, and that the 
country harbored no such people as our interesting Cali- 
fornia '49er, the ubiquity of the railroad having made the 
entire people as one, and the numberless hotels mitigating 
against meeting with the old time hospitality of the farmer. 
The Trans-Continental trip was made under our own 
power, with Robert R. Sherman at the wheel, and 
with occasional assistance from my travelling companions 
Henry E. Diggles and Thomas J. Kelly. 

HUGO A. TAUSSIG 

San Francisco, January 2, 1910 



The Illustrations 



Page 



Frontispiece — Mission Dolores. "Our Starting Point" 

Mission San Gabriel ... .3 

Mission Santa Barbara _____ 

The Road Near Santa Barbara - - - - 11 

Newhall Pass - - - - - - .15 

Sand Stretch, Grape Vine - - - - \7 

Oasis, Mono County, Near California- Nevada Line - - 19 

Twin Springs - - - - . 23 

" Suggested A Bottomless Marsh " - - - - 24 

Tippett, Nevada ------ 26 

Deep Creek Near Ibapah, Utah - - - 28 

Alkali Flat, Skull Valley, Out of Callao, Utah - 29 

Ruins Of A Station On The Old Overland Route - - 31 

Thomas, Fish Springs, Utah - - - - 33 

Emergency Tyre Repairing In the Desert - - 34 

The Devil's Slide - - - - - 37 

Evanston, Wyoming - - - - - -39 

Running A Machine Over Burlap, Through A Sandy Stretch, 

Wyoming Road ------ 41 

Point Of Rocks, Wyoming - 42 

"Negotiating" A Wyoming Wash - - - 43 

Stalled In Elk Mountains, Wyoming Road - 44 

Our Hosts In Elk Mountains, Wyoming - - - 45 

Our Night's Abode In Elk Mountains, Wyoming 49 
"Scouting". Finding Roads With The Assistance Of A 

Sheepherder And His Horse - - - - 5 1 

Ware Ranch, Medicine Bow - - - - 55 

1 ' Notice— All Automobiles Going This Road Must Pay 5 Oc " 58 

Ames Bros. Monument - - - - 59 

Crossing The Platte River - - - - 65 

Frisco-Boston Sign ------ 67 



The Illustrations 

Page 
"Gumbo" Road Out of Vail, Iowa - - - 73 

Iowa Pastoral -------74 

Approach to Mississippi River Bridge - 

A Pennsylvania Road - - - - - 83 

Stone Toll Road Between Syracuse and Fayetteville, N.Y. 87 

Monument on New York State Road - - - 89 

Times Square, New York City - - - - 91 

Map — Our Route from San Francisco to New York - 94 




Retracing the Pioneers 

ITH a turn of the crank we were 
off on a tour across the Ameri- 
can Continent in an automobile. 
No ! not for the purpose of mak- 
ing a record — just for pleasure. 
Did we get it? I leave it to my readers to 
judge. We left San Francisco on the first 
day of June. A beautiful gray day cheered 
us on our way. We did not get further than 
two or three hundred yards from our starting 
point when we recorded our first experience. 
In the excitement of taking leave we allowed 
our engine to die and forgot to release the 
clutch in making the street crossing, and in 
order to avoid being run down by a street car 
resorted to man power, with the result that 
we started our engine with no one at the 
wheel. St. Christopher, our patron Saint, 
and the presence of mind of one of our 
party saved us from a disastrous exit from San 
Francisco. 

Our natural gateway — the State road be- 
tween Placerville and the Nevada Line being 

1 



Retracing the Pioneers 

closed to us owing to snow on the summit, 
we wended our way south, making our start- 
ing point in San Francisco at the Mission 
Dolores, thence via El Camino Real or 
Mission Road, with its many truck farms, 
past the country homes of San Mateo into 
the fertile Santa Clara Valley, with its many 
orchards and seed farms, on to the Mission 
San Juan Bautista. After a hurried visit to 
this interesting Mission we made the run 
over the San Juan grade, which afforded us 
some very pretty views of the San Benito 
Valley, into the Salinas Valley, where at 
Soledad we took the old stage route through 
the picturesque Jolon and Indian Valleys, 
reaching Mission San Miguel at twilight. 
With a good road before us and an inviting 
hotel as our incentive, we ran on to Paso 
Robles for the night, recording 221.5 miles 
for this our first day's run. 




MISSION SAN GABRIEL 



Retracing the Pioneers 



■jg'ARLY morning of the second day saw 
i us continuing along the old stage route 
to Santa Margarita and over a steep 
and winding mountain pass to Mission San 
Luis Obispo. With a choice of routes from 
San Luis Obispo, we took the more interest- 
ing route along the Pacific Ocean to Pismo 
Beach. Here we again left the coast for the 
vegetable producing section of San Luis 
Obispo County, and the bean, sugar beet 
and oil producing section of Santa Barbara 
County to Los Olivos. The choice of roads 
again being ours, and mindful of the fact 
that ere long our path across the Continent 
would take us away from the coast, we sacri- 
ficed good roads and mountain scenery for 
marine views. Not until after we had enjoyed 
the Santa Ynez Mission and its olive groves, 
the beautiful wooded country, the mountain 
streams and the Gaviota Pass did we appre- 
ciate how much we had sacrificed for marine 
views. Running along the coast we were 
obliged to " negotiate ' ' numerous arroyos, 
which some witty soul had named " the fifty- 

5 



Retracing the Pioneers 

seven varieties ' ' . They certainly were most 
trying varieties, though they did afford us the 
pleasure of helping some poor unfortunate 
motorist whom lack of power had stalled 
along the road. I may mention that had it 
not been for such experiences the trip across 
the Continent would have been most monot- 
onous. Thanks to Santa Barbara County we 
spent an eventful and pleasant afternoon run- 
ning over its poor roads from Gaviota to 
Goleta. We arrived at Santa Barbara with 
our odometer at 147.8 miles. 




MISSION SANTA BARBARA 



Retracing the Pioneers 



w *3t* EAVING Santa Barbara and its pictur- 
ll , esque Mission behind us, we set out 
for the metropolis of Southern Cali- 
fornia. Following along State Street and the 
Ocean Boulevard, our road led us through 
Montecito Valley with its many pretty homes 
and parks on to Summerland with its oil wells 
extending out into the ocean. Five miles 
further on saw us amidst orange groves, and 
but few miles more and we were climbing 
over the Casitas Pass into Ventura County. 
With good roads before us we were not long 
running over the Conejo and Cahuenga 
Passes to Los Angeles, a distance from Santa 
Barbara of 104.9 miles. 



Retracing the Pioneers 

^|| | AVING equipped ourselves with burlap, 
J| 1^ block and tackle, pick and shovel, and 
a goodly supply of edibles, we left 
Los Angeles on the morning of the fifth day. 
Following the line of the Southern Pacific to 
Fernando we passed over the very steepest 
grade of the entire trip, Newhall Pass, 
through Soledad Canyon on to Palmdale. 
Here we left the line of the railroad for Del 
Sur. I do not know that I have any real 
reason for mentioning Del Sur other than 
that it marked the place where a kindly store- 
keeper allowed us the use of empty sugar 
barrels and boxes to spread our lunch upon, 
from our own larder. After voting this, our 
first outdoor luncheon, a success, we ran on 
to Willow Springs and Mojave, a distance 
from Los Angeles of 114.6 miles. 



10 




THE ROAD NEAR SANTA BARBARA 



Retracing the Pioneers 



^JV^NOWING the nature of the desert 
Tjl country before us, we made an early 
morning start from Mojave and fol- 
lowed the line of the Los Angeles aqueduct, 
now in course of construction. We, how- 
ever, had not proceeded further than Red 
Rock Canyon, a short distance out of Mojave, 
when we ran into a stretch of about one hun- 
dred and fifty yards of sand, which stalled our 
motor. This being our first experience, we 
were somewhat at a loss just how to proceed, 
but after some thought threw the combined 
strength of three men against the rear end of 
our car, and literally pushed the car out of 
the sand and on a more solid bottom, and 
continued on our way. Our joy was not of 
long duration, for at Grape Vine, not more 
than thirty miles further, we came to what 
we supposed a fork in the roads, and there 
being no apparent choice, we took the right 
fork and ran into trouble more serious than 
our first experience of the day. Pushing and 
pulling would not budge our car, as it did in 
the first instance, so not until we wore our- 

13 



Retracing the Pioneers 

selves out did the thought come to us that we 
had fortified ourselves against just such an 
occurrence by equipping ourselves with bur- 
lap. We cut the burlap into long strips about 
eighteen inches wide, the ends of which we 
tucked under the wheels of the machine. 
After weighting down the burlap at different 
intervals, we announced to our driver that we 
were ready for him ; that at a certain signal 
he should "turn her loose". The signal 
given, away went the car, but we saw our 
burlap being torn to the extent of worthless- 
ness for any further use. Burlap is not bad 
if you can pack it in sufficient quantities to 
say good-bye to it as you spread it on the 
road. I would, however, suggest a heavy 
canvas cut in long strips two feet in width as 
a more economical and serviceable equipment 
for desert motoring. Although in the desert, 
we found great interest in watching the 
stupendous work of Los Angeles capital in 
building the aqueduct. From Grape Vine 
we ran on to Little Lake and Haiwee, a 
fertile spot in the desert, and a most inviting 
place for spreading our lunch and enjoying a 

14 




NEWHALL PASS 



Retracing the Pioneers 



good cigar and a siesta. Profiting by our 
forenoon's experience, we were more success- 
ful in covering a stretch of seven miles, more 
or less, beyond Haiwee, of bad sand. This, 
however, was accomplished at the cost of a 
cut tire and pinched tube. After a delay of 
forty minutes we ran on to Olancha, near 
Owens Lake, and then into the fertile valley 
of the Owens River. Snow covered Mount 
Whitney to our left, and cultivation and the 
river to our right were welcome and beautiful 
sights after many miles of desert. Fourteen 
miles more, and with 132.5 miles as our day's 
run, we ran into Independence for the night. 




SAND STRETCH, GRAPE VINE 



Retracing the Pioneers 



EXPECTING that we would profit by 
the advice of knowing ones, we took 
the lane or upper road out of Indepen- 
dence and blindly followed directions through 
mud and water into depths we feared. 
Thinking discretion the better part of valor, 
we concluded to reverse our engine. A 
lucky thought took us to a road paralleling 
the C. & C. R. R., which ere long brought 
us into Big Pine. Here we took on gasoline, 
filled our water bags and thermos bottles, and 
after making enquiries as to the roads, took 
the grade over the White Mountains, which 
afforded us a pretty view of the valley of the 
Owens River, and which soon led us away 
from habitation and railroads and into Mono 
County. After travelling for some time we 
reached Foreman's Ranch, Oasis. Cook- 
house odors and our appetites, suggested the 
noon hour. I need not add that we were 
not long hunting the cookhouse and what it 
afforded us. " Four bits per" bought us a 
seat at the " Table d'hote" dinner, served on 
a long table devoid of tablecloth and napkins. 

18 



Retracing the Pioneers 




OASIS, MONO COUNTY, NEAR CALIFORNIA-NEVADA LINE 



Having satisfied our appetites, we studied 
human nature by " gluing our eyes" on one 
individual who, we finally concluded, was a 
brother of Buffalo Bill, if "get up" counted 
for anything. Dinner over, we hunted up 
the foreman of the ranch for further road 
directions, and off we were. At 2:30 that 
afternoon we reached the California-Nevada 
State Line, having travelled a distance from 
San Francisco of about 788.8 miles, or about 
500 miles further than we would have been 

19 



Retracing the Pioneers 

obliged to travel had we taken the Placerville- 
Tahoe road. After crossing the State Line 
our first town in the Sage Brush State was the 
partially deserted mining town Silver Peak. 
According to our directions we were follow- 
ing the tracks of an automobile which had 
left Oasis ahead of us, and which we were 
told was bound for Tonopah, our destination 
for that night. Although it seemed to us 
that we were bearing too much to the south 
we followed the tracks, and much to our sur- 
prise, ran into Goldfield, one of Nevada's 
liveliest mining towns. The day was quite a 
strenuous one, as we had surmounted five 
summits, and the Goldfield Hotel looked 
inviting to us, and with 128.2 miles for the 
day's run, we put up for the night. 



20 



Retracing the Pioneers 



PLEASED with our unexpected visit to 
Goldfield, and enjoying the comforts 
of a good hotel, we pulled out the 
next morning at ten-thirty for the run to 
Tonopah, another lively and interesting min- 
ing town, but 25.6 miles away. 

The real " dyed-in-the-wool" Western hos- 
pitality, and a bunch of jolly good fellows 
kept us in Tonopah for the day. 



21 



Retracing the Pioneers 



^^k A'NOWING that a mining engineer, well 
TjT acquainted with the roads and cut-offs, 
intended starting out in his Simplex 
machine over a portion of the road we were 
to cover, we got under way at five in the 
morning, and at Stone Cabin we caught up 
with his machine. Nine and a half miles 
further on we recorded our first "tyre blow 
out", which meant not only the loss of an 
hour, but also the loss of our guiding ma- 
chine, which went on ahead. At Stone 
Cabin our guide, the engineer, told us that 
at the fork of the roads near an uninhabited 
spot named Warm Springs, we were no lon- 
ger to follow his tracks, but were to take the 
road to the right. On reaching the fork of 
the roads we saw before us, conspicuously 
placed on the end of a stick, a piece of paper 
with the note, "Here is where I leave you, 
keep right-hand road to Twin Springs". 

Arriving at Twin Springs, consisting of a 
cabin and a small spring, we again halted, 
this time to change a rear tyre — then fifty- 
two miles through a tiresome country, with 

22 



Retracing the Pioneers 




TWIN SPRINGS 



the uncertainty of roads — if trails may be 
styled roads, as our sole diversion to Blue 
Eagle. Out of Blue Eagle we ran into a 
more interesting country, to us full of inci- 
dents. We had not travelled further than 
Curry Creek, thirteen miles away, when we 
arrived at what appeared to us to be the end 
of the road. As self-appointed captain of the 
party, I left the machine for a distant house 
in search of road information. I got what I 
was after. Our machine had not made more 
than one hundred feet when I heard a crash, 
and looking out I saw the rear wheel of the 
machine go through a weak culvert. There 
being no damage to it, we took what fun we 
could in the labor of getting the machine out 
of its perilous position.. A few miles further 
on, while going up a grade, our machine stuck 

23 



Retracing the Pioneers 




SUGGESTED A BOTTOMLESS MARSH 



in the sand. However, getting the machine 
out of sand no longer had any terror for us; 
for by experience we had gained, that unless 
the sand was very heavy, by throwing our 
coil of rope under one or both of the rear or 
driving wheels, they got traction and with it, 
locomotion. Out of Barnes, another short 
run, and we reached what very much sug- 
gested a bottomless marsh, the crossing of 
which did not appear feasible. 

Equipped with long pieces of fence rail, 
we had just commenced sounding the first 
pool of water when, to our joy, a halfbreed 

24 



Retracing the Pioneers 

appeared on the scene. He greeted us by 
"Team got stuck here this morning *'. We 
were not long in getting him to take a friend- 
ly interest in us and to point out just where 
the wagon got stalled. Our next move was 
to find the " High Spots' ', which we did with 
the aid of our sticks. With this information, 
we stationed ourselves on the banks of the 
pool with ropes and brush in hand ready to 
assist our machine from getting mired. The 
landing made, and fearful of a repetition, we 
engaged the services of the knowing half- 
breed to pilot us through this stretch of coun- 
try — about two miles, more or less, being 
under water. By opening a series of gates, 
and running across country, we again reached 
the main highway and dry roads. Twenty- 
eight miles of good roads took us into Ely, 
and one mile further to the Steptoe Hotel, 
East Ely, our odometer registering 182.6 
miles for the day's run. 



25 



Retracing the Pioneers 




TIPPETT, NEVADA 



^tf^ EFORE leaving Ely we were kept busy 
T^ the entire forenoon making a fruitless 
search for a tire to replace the extra 
tire which we were obliged to put on the day 
before, and which was most essential if we 
concluded to take the road of the Old Pony 
Express, and away from the railroad. Rely- 
ing on our good luck, we at 2*30 that after- 
noon left Ely to follow the road of the Old 
Overland Mail, with the information that the 
stumps of the old telegraph poles would act 
as our guide. We had not travelled sixty 

26 



Retracing the Pioneers 

miles when an explosion announced a "tyre 
blow out", which was augmented shortly 
after by the tyre shoe coming off. We started 
out fully expecting to make Ibapah, Utah, by 
night, but with the hands of our watch point- 
ing at eight, we concluded to put up at 
Tippett, recording but 67.7 miles for the 
afternoon's run. 



27 



Retracing the Pioneers 




DEEP CREEK NEAR IBAPAH, UTAH 

^*^\ HOUSE, a barn, a few sheep and a 
~/j\ small parcel of cultivated land, is all 
that Tippett appeared to be to the 
chance passer by. A short visit, however, 
soon convinced us that there was more to the 
place than we looked for. We found a post 
office, a warehouse well stocked with mer- 
chandise, and an interesting lot of people. 
Puzzled as to what warranted them in ostra- 
cizing themselves, as we felt these people had 
done, and curiosity getting the better of us, 
we made inquiries. Much to our surprise 

28 



Retracing the Pioneers 




ALKALI FLAT, SKULL VALLEY, OUT OF CALLAO, UTAH 



we learned that there were quite a number of 
farmers and stock men scattered all over the 
country, who came long distances to transact 
their business. Nothing of this was visible. 

Leaving Tippett, we soon ran into a coun- 
try which we found under irrigation, and on 
to roads which were under water. But 
a few miles further saw us in Ibapah, Utah, 
which supported a store, demonstrating to us 
that we were passing through an inhabited 
country. The next twenty miles did not 
afford us much of interest, the only life we 
saw being an occasional antelope, bands of 

29 



Retracing the Pioneers 

wild horses and coyotes. At noon we ran 
into Willow Springs, Callao, a Mormon 
settlement, a very fertile spot on the edge of 
the Great American Desert. Before leaving 
we had luncheon in one of the Mormon 
homes, and a noon day rest. Rest was prob- 
lematic, owing to the numberless children ; 
but our host assured us that the family a little 
further along the road could boast of a greater 
number of children. Eight miles further 
and our machine was stuck in an alkali flat, 
and not until we had thrown everything and 
anything available under the mired wheel, 
did we succeed in extricating it. Though we 
had not covered many miles when we reached 
Thomas Station, Fish Springs, a rather unin- 
viting place, we called it a day's run, with the 
odometer indicating 70.9 miles. 



30 



Retracing the Pioneers 




RUINS OF A STATION ON THE OLD OVERLAND ROUTE 



^^" HOMAS Station not affording us much 
\^j other than righting gnats, poor food 
and unclean beds, innocent of linen, 
and knowing that we had a run of fifty miles 
through the desert before us, we did not tarry 
long, so at five the next morning we were 
again under way. We had covered not more 
than four miles when a tyre blew out, and 
eighteen miles further on we had a second 
blow out. With only a much worn out 
tyre, which we fortunately packed with us in 
lieu of a new one, we still felt that in 
an emergency it would see us through our 

31 



Retracing the Pioneers 

trouble, and to Salt Lake City. At forty-one 
miles, after having travelled through a coun- 
try devoid of water, vegetation and habitation, 
we ran into a lonely stage station where we 
remained just long enough to brew some 
coffee for ourselves. At noon we left, and 
not more than twenty miles later we again 
heard a familiar sound, which in this instance 
recorded tyre blow out number three. On 
went a tyre shoe and another inside protector, 
and away we went. This time we travelled 
ten miles, when blow out number four came 
upon us. After putting our heads together, 
we finally concluded to cut the bead from the 
worn out tyre and reinforce the one that was 
causing us so much trouble, and as an extra 
precaution we changed our positions in the 
tonneau so as to remove all weight possible 
from it. But a run of another hour again 
saw us in trouble, and we recorded blow out 
number five. Again we put our tyre in 
shape, and in fear and trembling moved on. 
With but eleven miles between our trouble 
and habitation, we concluded that possibly, 
with extremely slow running of the machine, 

32 



Retracing the Pioneers 




THOMAS, FISH SPRINGS, UTAH 



and with no load at all, might see us at least 
that far. So, barring the driver, the happy 
family took to their feet. We made Lookout 
Station and in sight of habitation, which 
made matters look more cheerful. Our 
cheer, however, was not lasting, for a little 
further on blow out number six occurred, 
and we were on the rim. Luckily we were 
out of the desert by this time and in a soft, 
moist soil. Since our tyre refused to hold 
air, we fed it on rope, tied some to the rim, 
and with a smile moved on — only for a short 
way, however, then we stuck in the mud. 

33 



Retracing the Pioneers 

The efforts of our combined weight shoved 
our car out, and we were soon hobbling along 
again. At 6:45 P.M., with 65.6 miles for 
the day's run, we were in Vernon, a small 
Mormon settlement but a few miles from the 
railroad and in easy reach of Salt Lake City, 
and supplies. 




EMERGENCY TYRE REPAIRING IN THE DESERT 



34 



Retracing the Pioneers 



^^%ITH good bed and board, our enforced 
^J\r rest of a day and a half at Vernon, 
during our mechanician's trip to 
Salt Lake City to purchase tubes and tyres, 
was quite as agreeable as it was unexpected. 
At noon of the second day we were again 
equipped, and at three that afternoon under 
way. 

It was not long before we ran into Tooele, 
where, for the first time in many days, we 
saw land under Cultivation. Little further 
on, at Garfield, we saw the Great Salt Lake, 
and with our odometer at 66.2 miles, we ran 
into Salt Lake City, the first city of any size 
since leaving Los Angeles, California. 



35 



Retracing the Pioneers 



*^f N order to give our mechanician time to 
overhaul our car, which had not received 
more than the ordinary care, although 
it had taken us safely over thirteen hundred 
miles, and furthermore, being in need of 
inner tubes and tyres, we delayed a day at 
Salt Lake City. Properly equipped and our 
machine overhauled, we pulled out of Salt 
Lake City on the morning of the sixteenth 
day at ten o'clock. We had travelled not 
more than a few miles when we ran into a 
beautiful fertile valley with snow covered 
mountains in the distance; and ever mindful 
of our appetites, made a slight detour to reach 
Ogden and its restaurants. After luncheon 
we ran back to Riverdale and on through the 
scenic Weber canyon, with its winding roads 
crossing and recrossing its running streams. 
Needless to say we did not fail to see the 
Devil's Slide, so well known to the patrons 
of the Union Pacific. After a most interest- 
ing and enjoyable run through Weber Can- 
yon, we passed through the more bleak, 
though romantic, Echo Canyon. When 

36 




THE DEVIL S SLIDE 



Retracing the Pioneers 

within a few miles of the Utah-Wyoming 
Line, at a station on the railroad named 
Wahsatch, we passed Weston, the pedestrian, 
on his walk across the American Continent. 
Though it was after eight that evening when 
we reached Evanston, our odometer reading 
was but 117.7 miles for the day, showing that 
we took advantage of what the day afforded 
us, and manifested appreciation of it after 
nigh eight hundred miles of desert travelling. 




EVANSTON, WYOMING 



39 



Retracing the Pioneers 



V ^%HILE in Salt Lake City we tried to 
^jU get our route through Wyoming. 
All the response we received to our 
many inquiries was: "See P. W. Spaulding, 
the attorney at Evanston; he has made the 
trip across the Continent " . We lost no time 
looking him up and he kindly furnished us 
with a map of the country, on which he 
traced the route we were to take. He being 
an automobile enthusiast, and as it was Thurs- 
day night, we induced him to take a week's 
end run with us. We shipped our luggage 
in order to gain seating space and lighten our 
load, and at the appointed hour the next 
morning, under his guidance, left the main 
line of the Union Pacific for the coal mining 
town, Cumberland, on the Oregon Short 
Line. Cumberland is in Wyoming and on 
a railroad, still it harbored a man to whom it 
was our pleasure to explain the workings of 
the first automobile he had ever seen. 

From Cumberland we went to Opal, and 
then to Granger, on the main line of the 
Union Pacific. This road we were to par- 

40 



Retracing the Pioneers 

allel into Omaha, the elements permitting. 
From here our road took us over a series of 
washes (gullies), of which Marston Wash 
was considered the worst, and which we were 
told we would not be able to cross without 
the assistance of a team of horses. Good 
luck, a sixty horse power engine, or good 
driving, however, took us over the washes 
and on to Bryan, where we were compelled 
to take to the railroad ties for a short distance 
in order to regain our road. With the excep- 
tion of the replacing of our driving chain, 
which came off owing to the strenuous travel- 
ling, we had no further trouble to Green 
River. But a few miles more, and with 
131.3 miles for our day's work, we were in 
Rock Springs, our stopping place for the night. 




RUNNING MACHINE OVER BURLAP, THROUGH A SANDY STRETCH 
WYOMING ROAD 



Retracing the Pioneers 




POINT OF ROCKS, WYOMING 



^ %^E travelled but a few miles out of Rock 
Wl^/ Springs when we found ourselves 
fighting our way through a stretch 
of about two hundred yards of sand. Coils 
of ropes, all the dry brush we could find, and 
fifty-five minutes of hard labor conquered it. 
This, however, was but a suggestion of what 
was still to come. A party travelling en auto 
bound for Seattle kindly informed us that we 
had some * ' dandy ditches ' ' before us. They 
failed to tell us that a team hauled them over 
the bad places. We were not long getting 

42 



Retracing the Pioneers 

our experience. Ditch number one cost us 
half an hour's tugging, and ditch number 
two another half hour. Aside from this vari- 
ation, we spent the entire day running over 
what purported to be roads, and for pastime 
watched the Union Pacific track laborers and 
the semaphores along the track, until at 123 
miles we put into Rawlins. 




NEGOTIATING A WYOMING WASH 



43 



Retracing the Pioneers 




STALLED IN ELK MOUNTAINS, WYOMING ROAD 



^^y4 T Rawlins we learned that the bridges 
^"\ were washed out and that the auto- 
mobilists in the New York-Seattle 
race were travelling over the railroad bridges 
with much difficulty and with injury to their 
machines. Expecting to profit by their ex- 
periences, we appealed to our travelling com- 
panion, Mr. Spaulding, to direct us around 
the trouble. Knowing the country, he tried 
to inform himself as to the condition of the 
roads, but, not contrary to the usual, he found 
it almost impossible to get authentic informa- 
tion. He finally concluded to make a detour 
of over forty miles, so at eight-thirty the next 

44 




OUR HOSTS IN ELK MOUNTAINS, WYOMING 



Retracing the Pioneers 

morning we were heading south and away 
from the main line of the Union Pacific. 
Our road took us via Hopkins Ranch through 
unfrequented canyons to Saratoga. Delight- 
ed with our forenoon's successful run we, 
after a noon day rest, moved on. We had 
not proceeded far when we were caught in a 
thunder storm which came upon us very sud- 
denly. After hurriedly adjusting our storm 
curtains, we speeded on to Schoojan's Ranch, 
where we found the country for some distance 
around under water. With the assurance 
that there was bottom to the road and with 
Mr. Schoojan's directions well jotted down, 
we put on our skid chains and moved on. 
We were not out of sight of the ranch when 
we discovered a puncture. Our puncture 
repaired, we braved three miles of hog-back 
road which our machinery at times failed to 
clear in spite of thirteen and a half inches 
clearance, when much to our dismay, our 
rear wheels went almost out of sight in the 
mud and we were stuck. With the rain 
beating down on us we set to work to extri- 
cate our machine. We got our right wheel 

47 



Retracing the Pioneers 

partly jacked up, when in looking at the left 
wheel we found that the only obstruction that 
kept it from going out of sight was the axle. 
This, however, did not discourage us, and we 
continued our good work by building up 
underneath it until it was on a solid founda- 
tion. Then we turned our attention to the 
left wheel, which we also propped up. With 
our rear wheels high and dry, our next 
thought was how to pull the machine to firm 
ground. Our block and tackle we found 
could not be used, for we could not gain a 
hold for our " dead-man ". The only thing 
left us being our own strength, we tied a rope 
to the front axle, and with four men on the 
rope, the machine in the low, and with a full 
throttle, we pulled her out. Leaving our 
machine, we walked on to a sheepherder's 
wagon in search of road information from 
its lonely occupants, with the usual success. 
Failing in this we started off over the road 
afoot. We had not far to go before we found 
that the road was impassable for any kind of 
a vehicle. It being five in the afternoon, we 
finally concluded to tie up for the night, 

48 



Retracing the Pioneers 

satisfied that if Elk Mountain afforded us no 
shelter other than our machine, the sheep- 
herders at least offered to satisfy the inner man. 
After our repast, which consisted of mutton 
stew and coffee, we borrowed our host's shoes 
to replace our well soaked pedal covers, took 
our mileage for the day, 57.4 miles, and piled 
into our automobile for the night. 




OUR NIGHT S ABODE IN ELK MOUNTAINS, WYOMING 



49 



Retracing the Pioneers 



^^\ETWIXT spinning yarns and occas- 
w^ ional naps we managed to pass the 
night, and were not sorry to see the 
dawn of day. Unable to continue as origi- 
nally planned, and unwilling to double back 
over our road, the only course left us to get 
back to the Union Pacific was to travel cross 
country. Our host, the sheepherder, volun- 
teering to accompany us part of the way, we 
left camp at six. Soon we learned that he 
was no better informed than we were, and 
bade him adieu. We travelled over unbeaten 
paths and sheep trails in a rather aimless fash- 
ion until it occurred to us that if we hoped to 
reach our goal that day we must decide upon 
some more definite course. We finally decid- 
ed to split up our party, each man taking a 
different direction, in the hope of finding 
some settlement which might assist us in 
locating ourselves, thus shaping our course. 
Matters looked rather hopeless, when sud- 
denly one of our party shouted that he saw a 
team travelling along a road, which much to 
our surprise, was but a short distance off; 

50 




SCOUTING 



FINDING ROADS WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF A 
SHEEPHERDER AND HIS HORSE 



Retracing the Pioneers 

with an impassable gully between us how- 
ever. We lost no time in hailing the driver, 
who told us that we were but eighteen miles 
from Hanna, on the Union Pacific, and that 
if we followed the road he was on we would 
have no further difficulties. Fortunately, 
another of our party spied a structure of some 
kind a mile or more off, which on investiga- 
tion proved to be a deserted wooden corral. 
Appropriating what lumber we needed, we 
packed it to the gully, built a bridge, and 
safely ran our car across and on to the road. 
Consulting our clock and odometer we found 
that we had consumed four hours covering 
but six miles. Elated with our success in 
finding a road and with a few miles of easy 
running, we soon forgot our troubles, when 
we were rudely awakened by more serious 
trouble. We ran on to a road which at some 
time must have been used for hauling ore, 
with the result that the ruts cut into it resem- 
bled gullies, impossible for our machine to 
travel in. With one wheel on the hog back 
of the road, the other on the high bank par- 
alleling the road, we tried it for a way. This 

53 



Retracing the Pioneers 

failing, we left the road and travelled through 
the sagebrush, which we felt would, at the 
worst, not injure the fly wheel of the ma- 
chine, if it did rip off its drip pan. There 
being no way out of our dilemma, we bowed 
to the inevitable, and travelled cautiously out 
of the sagebrush and into a flooded district. 
At half-past eleven that forenoon we finally 
reached Hanna, and were back to the line of 
the Union Pacific which, as previously stated, 
we were to follow. At Medicine Bow, twelve 
miles further on, we were told that the Medi- 
cine Bow River at Ware Ranch had overflowed 
its banks, and that it would not be advisable 
to attempt to ford it. This, however, did not 
deter us; for thinking the report an exagger- 
ated one, we continued on our way. Arriv- 
ing opposite Ware Ranch we hailed a man 
on horseback who happened to be nearby, 
and at the suggestion of one of our party 
requested him to ford the river with his horse 
so that we might get some idea of its depth, 
and help us to a conclusion. It was finally 
agreed that Mr. Diggles and I were to arrange 
for horses to accompany the machine. We 

54 



Retracing the Pioneers 




WARE RANCH, MEDICINE BOW 



started off on our mission, leaving the others 
to busy themselves winding all the available 
rope we had aboard around the rim of the 
rear wheels, in order to give them traction. 
With some difficulty (not without getting our 
feet wet), Mr. Diggles and I reached the 
opposite bank and made our wants known, 
but before the horses were in readiness we 
saw our machine ploughing through the 
water to terra firma. After settling with the 
rancher and explaining to him that our party 
had brought the machine thus far under its 
own power, and that as a matter of pride we 
were anxious to so continue, we were off; 
but not for any great distance, for we soon 
found the road closed by barbed wire fences. 

55 



Retracing the Pioneers 

Seeing some automobile tracks on the inside 
of the fence, we cut the wires, let our ma- 
chine through, and in order to show our good 
breeding, perhaps also fearing the law, we 
replaced them as we found them, and re- 
gained our road. Soon after, and but a few 
miles out of Rock River, we met a party of 
autoists also bound East. We travelled in 
company as far as the Laramie River, where 
they stopped to take water. Leaving them 
we ran on another short stretch, when much 
to our disgust, we saw a lane ahead that in 
the words of the motorists, "did not look 
good to us ' ' . The sight of one of the New 
York-Seattle cars stuck in the mud made our 
hope of getting over this apparently bottom- 
less road most dubious. Mr. Diggles and I, 
possibly because we were better shod than the 
others of our party, set out to take soundings, 
leaving the others to wind the rope around 
the rear wheels preparatory to venturing over 
the road. Satisfied that if our machine could 
get over this horrible stretch we could make 
Laramie for the night, we motioned our 
driver to come on. The feat safely accom- 

56 



Retracing the Pioneers 

plished, we stopped the machine and awaited 
the coming of the one we left behind us at 
the river. It was a comical sight to see it 
coming through the lane with its driver 
attempting to follow our irregular track. 
This done and feeling our services no longer 
needed, we again moved on, reaching Lar- 
amie at eight thirty-five that night, with our 
odometer at 121.7 miles. 



57 



Retracing the Pioneers 




< ^^ p " I RED as a result of the previous, for 

\Sj us, most strenuous day's work, we 

did not leave Laramie for Cheyenne, 

a distance of 58.5 miles, till noon, a short but 

interesting run. 

Out of Tie Siding, a short distance from 
Laramie, our attention was attracted by a sign 
put up by an enterprising rancher, reading: 
"Notice. — All automobiles going this road 
to Cheyenne must pay 50c. A. Horseman''. 

58 




AMES BROS. MONUMENT 



Retracing the Pioneers 

We soon learned that the county road for 
some distance was impassable, and that the 
rancher, with an eye to business, insured safe 
travelling through his domain and on to the 
main highway, at a cost of fifty cents. It 
must not be supposed that he spent time or 
money improving the road through his ranch. 
In lieu of that he had a team of horses ready 
to haul machines out of trouble when re- 
quired. Regaining the main highway, we 
climbed up to Sherman, at one time the 
highest point on the Union Pacific, but 
deserted since its reconstruction. At, or near 
Sherman, we saw a monument in the form 
of a pyramid erected to the memory of the 
Ames Bros., contractors and builders of the 
road. The monument stood close to a huge 
pile of rocks, itself much resembling a pyra- 
mid. We delayed long enough to take a 
few photographs, and then continued on to 
Granite Canyon and down the grade to 
Cheyenne. 



61 



Retracing the Pioneers 

^V UNNING over miserable roads and 
T^^ through a sparsely settled country 
had gotten on our nerves, and with 
joy we hailed the promise of better roads and 
a more thickly settled country through Ne- 
braska, but forty-three miles further east. 
The country no doubt will, ere long, be a 
rich farming one; as yet it is merely land 
fenced in under homestead, but recently 
wrested from the big cattle owners. Each 
section boasted but a shack. Our introduc- 
tion to Nebraska roads was disappointing, 
for at Bushnell, but a few miles from the 
Wyoming-Nebraska line, fearing to ford a 
creek, we ran over a bridge which was much 
the worse for the ravages of the water; the 
result being that one of its loose planks 
wrenched the fender and running board of 
our machine, recording the first accident of 
the journey. We soon saw that good roads 
were not to be our lot. Meeting a motor- 
party from Denver, after a pow-wow we 
concluded to make a detour to Kimball, in 
place of following the route along the rail- 

62 



Retracing the Pioneers 

road through a flooded district. From there 
we ran on to Sidney, our destination, having 
registered 111.6 miles for the day. 



63 



Retracing the Pioneers 

OUT of Sidney we ran to Chappell, where 
we left the line of the Union Pacific 
for a better and more direct route to 
Big Springs. Owing to late rains we were 
compelled to make a number of detours 
which meant nothing more than the crossing 
and recrossing of the South Platte River, but 
this gave us a better opportunity to see the 
rich farming country of the South Platte. 
From Sutherland we ran for some distance 
between the North and South Platte Rivers 
to their confluence, a short way beyond the 
town of North Platte. Following the south 
side of the Platte River for forty-eight miles 
we crossed it, and ran into Gothenburg, hav- 
ing made 177 miles for the day; a good indi- 
cation that the roads were not bad. 



64 




CROSSING THE PLATTE RIVER 



Retracing the Pioneers 




FRISCO-BOSTON SIGN 



w 



] had not travelled more than ahout 
thirty miles out of Gothenburg when 
we were treated to a heavy down- 
pour of rain, with the result that what we 
had so often been told was soon to be demon- 
strated, namely: "The roads are fine when 
it does not rain ". It did not require much 
rain to make the roads too slippery for safe 
travelling. We put chains on the rear wheels 
of our machine and worried along for about 
two miles into Lexington, where we put up 
awaiting the passing of the storm. The 

67 



Retracing the Pioneers 

storm over, we purchased a second set of 
chains, which we placed on the front wheels 
as an extra precaution against skidding, and 
ventured out. When within four miles of 
Kearny we saw the well known " Frisco- 
Boston' ' sign, which marks the half way 
between those cities, 1733 miles. We, how- 
ever, had travelled 2301.5 miles to reach this 
point. From here on we had good roads, 
making Grand Island for the night, our 
mileage for the day being 117.6 miles. 



68 



Retracing the Pioneers 



lm jBf EAVING Grand Island we continued 
11^ on our way through the very rich 
farming country of the Platte. The 
day was entirely without incidents. Cautious 
running, however, was necessary, owing to 
the condition of the roads due to the occas- 
ional showers we encountered. With our 
odometer at 150.5 miles, we ran into Omaha. 



69 



Retracing the Pioneers 



OWING to the intense heat and thunder 
storms which did not promise passable 
roads, we delayed at Omaha. On the 
morning of the twenty-eighth day we read 
reports stating that the lower end of Council 
Bluffs across the Missouri River was under 
water. Thinking the reports exaggerated, 
we decided to start out and see for ourselves. 
Before leaving we met a party of women 
motorists who told us that their car was tied 
up in Vail, Iowa, and that they feared we 
would not be able to travel over the roads. 
Our minds made up, we started out at eleven 
that forenoon. The reports of the flooded 
district of Council Bluffs were soon verified, 
but the water having receded, we found no 
difficulty in making that city. We were not 
much further along when we found it neces- 
sary to put chains on the wheels of our car, 
and with our odometer at eleven miles we 
were stuck in Iowa's "Gumbo" (a wet, 
thick and heavy soil). Extricating our ma- 
chine, we again got under way. Following 
along section lines to the west and north of 

70 



Retracing the Pioneers 

the Boyer River, in order to avoid the flooded 
roads, we ran along slowly, feeling our way, 
when at dusk there appeared ahead of us a 
stretch of two hundred feet of road entirely 
under water and not at all promising. The 
tracks of a wagon that had but recently gone 
through the puddle, gave us courage, and 
without much hesitation, we ran in, and 
luckily, out of it. Plugging, as we had been, 
for an entire afternoon, we did not feel hilar- 
ious; but the spectators our machine attracted, 
as it travelled through the water, and their 
astonishment at not seeing us stuck, was most 
amusing. Though our objective point for 
the night was Dennison, with its good hotel, 
eight-fifteen saw us in Arion with anything 
but a good hotel, and with but 72.3 miles as 
the result of nine hours running. Here we 
were assured that owing to the country being 
under water and bridges out, we could pro- 
ceed no further. 



71 



Retracing the Pioneers 

^^4 FTER an all but restful night we were 
-^\ up and about bright and early in 
search of road information. The 
night before, our proceeding further under 
our own power, as stated, looked hopeless. 
Search soon revealed an individual who 
claimed that on the previous day he had 
travelled over the stretch of road that was 
causing us so much thought. Following his 
instructions we put on our four chains and at 
eight that morning pulled out of Arion, and 
much to our chagrin found that we were but 
forty minutes in reaching Dennison, which 
the night previous we had been told was 
inaccessible from the west. At Vail, ten 
miles further on, we were again in a quandary 
as to the advisability of proceeding, knowing 
that a machine had been stalled in a marshy 
lane which we were to travel over. On the 
advice of a storekeeper we put our "mud 
fighters" on the wheels and "kept close to 
the fence ". Our power pulled us through, 
and good luck saved the springs of the ma- 
chine. From here we travelled under 

72 



Retracing the Pioneers 

more or less difficulties, until we reached 
Ogden (Iowa), where a severe thunder storm 
assisted us in a conclusion to tie up, awaiting 
its passing. Under the impression if we were 
to fear any part of the road ahead of us, it 
would be near Boone, we 'phoned the garage 
proprietor at that place, asking him if he 
would advise us to come on. With an affir- 
mative answer from him we started. Still, 
in spite of road conditions, we enjoyed the 
very rich farming country, and were agreeably 
surprised and pleased to find ourselves in a 
" dandy " forest, but a short way out on our 
way to Boone, which place we reached with 
our odometer at 95.6 miles. 




GUMBO ROAD OUT OF VAIL, IOWA 



Retracing the Pioneers 




IOWA PASTOR A I 



^^%E left Boone with the pleasing infor- 
Wl/ mation that but a short run would 
see us on good roads. Fifteen miles 
out we ran into Ames, where we visited 
the State College and its beautiful grounds. 
Travelling on we noticed the difference in 
soil, and though not experts, we concluded 
that Eastern Iowa could not boast of as rich 
and productive a soil as the western half of 
the State, if it could boast of better roads. 

At Tama, about sixty-five miles out of 
Ames, we ran on the promised good roads, 

74 



Retracing the Pioneers 

and the temptation being great we speeded 
on to Cedar Rapids; our odometer reading 
136 miles for the day. 



75 



Retracing the Pioneers 



m *jfT EAVING Cedar Rapids at seven twenty- 
1L . five the next morning we took advan- 
tage of good roads, and at noon day 
had covered ninety-one miles, which saw us 
in Clinton. 

After luncheon we crossed the Mississippi 
River and into Fulton, 111. Continuing, we, 
at six twenty that evening, were in De Kalb. 

With Chicago but sixty-three miles away, 
and being anxious to get there, we took on 
gas and soon were off again. Travelling after 
dark over strange roads made our progress 
slow; but at nine-thirty that night we reached 
Maywood. From there we travelled over 
the boulevards of Chicago to our hotel on 
Michigan Avenue, which place we made by 
ten-twenty that night, with two hundred and 
forty miles as the day's run. 



76 




APPROACH TO MISSISSIPPI RIVER BRIDGE 



Retracing the Pioneers 



•7\ NXIOUS to reach our goal, New 
^*\ York City, we delayed but two 
days in Chicago. The morning of 
the thirty-fourth day saw us running out 
Michigan Avenue through Washington Park 
and by the Boulevard to Jackson Park, the 
site of the World's Columbian Exposition of 
1893. A short visit to its few remaining 
interesting places, and away we were. 

Leaving Jackson Park we were not long 
in making Hammond, where we entered 
Indiana. 

Running over a rolling, wooded country, 
at two that afternoon we made the carriage 
and wagon manufacturing city, South Bend, 
for luncheon. Owing to heavy rains we, a 
short distance further, put into Goshen, with 
our odometer at 136 miles. 



79 



Retracing the Pioneers 

^ m0 l\ T an early hour the next morning we 
~^\ left Goshen, continuing through a 
wooded and farming country to the 
Indiana-Ohio State Line, a little beyond 
Butler, and to Toledo, a busy railroad center 
on the Maumee River. 

After a half hour at Toledo we proceeded, 
and with our odometer at 176.4 miles ran 
into Fremont. 



80 



Retracing the Pioneers 



SINCE leaving Chicago we had travelled 
by aid of the Rand-McNally " Photo 
Auto Guide". At Fremont we were 
told that the "Automobile Blue Book" 
offered a choice of routes. The weather 
being in our favor, we chose the Lake Shore 
route. Seven and a half miles out of 
Fremont, at Clyde, we headed north, and 
at Hudson, twenty-five and a half miles fur- 
ther, ran on to the " Lake Road". Follow- 
ing the Lake front over good roads, and 
through a vineyard country for nigh forty- 
eight miles, brought us into Cleveland. 

Leaving Cleveland, we continued on the 
"Lake Shore Road" out Euclid Avenue. 
Ninety-eight miles of excellent running and 
with 179.3 miles for the day's run, we were 
in Erie, Pennsylvania. 



81 



Retracing the Pioneers 

^•^ HE next morning at about eight we 
4^ j left Erie, and after a run of but 
eighteen and a half miles, through 
a vineyard country, we reached the Penn- 
sylvania-New York State Line. Following 
along the south shore of Lake Erie we at 
noon day ran into Buffalo, our odometer 
registering 91.3 miles. 



82 




A PENNSYLVANIA ROAD 



Retracing the Pioneers 



31 AVING covered over two thousand 
I miles since our car received its last 
careful overhauling, and with enough 
of interest in and about Buffalo to hold us for 
a couple of days, we did not leave that city 
until the morning of the fortieth day. 

We were not further than about eight 
miles from our hotel when, running at a 
speed of twenty-two miles, we were stopped 
by a constable, who, acting as arresting officer, 
judge and jury, taxed us ten dollars for ex- 
ceeding the State speed limit. 

Seventy-four miles of good running, saw 
us in Rochester on the Genesee River. 
Desirous of seeing the lakes of northern New 
York State, we travelled southeast from 
Rochester to Canandaigua, and to the lake 
of the same name. Sixteen miles further, 
we ran into Geneva, on Seneca Lake, and 
but eleven miles more, just out of Seneca 
Falls, we were in sight of Cayuga Lake. 
After travelling over the Montezuma swamp 
we soon were in Auburn, where, owing to 
the lateness of the hour, we left the lake 

85 



Retracing the Pioneers 

district and travelled northeast, and with 
172.9 miles as our odometer reading, ran 
into Syracuse. 



86 



Retraci?tg the Pioneers 




STONE TOLL ROAD BETWEEN SYRACUSE AND FAYETTEVILLE, N. Y 



W 



ITH the exception of the previous 
afternoon's run from Canandaigua 
to Auburn, New York State did not 
afford us anything other than good roads. 
The trees we saw appeared to us to be affected 
by a blight. We feared that possibly our 
long journey across the continent had begun 
to make us indifferent to our surroundings, 
when but a short way out of Utica and but 
fifty miles from Syracuse, which city we left 
that morning at nine, we ran into the Valley 

87 



Retracing the Pioneers 

of the Mohawk, whose beauties soon hauled 
us out of our reveries. At Little Falls, 
twenty-two miles further east, the view of 
the Mohawk, the Erie Canal and the railways 
wending their way side by side through a 
narrow gorge cut through a spur of the 
Adirondacks by the River, we were more 
than awakened to the beauties of the often 
referred to "Valley of the Mohawk". Con- 
tinuing along the Mohawk and the canal for 
a distance of nearly fifty-seven miles we 
reached Schenectady. A run of fourteen and 
a half miles without strict observance of the 
State's speed law soon saw us in Albany, on 
the Hudson, with 142.4 miles for our day's 
run. 



88 



Retracing the Pioneers 




MONUMENT ON NEW YORK STATE ROAD 

"•jf* EAVING Albany we crossed the Hudson 
II . to Rensselaer and on to the State Road, 
which runs along the east side of the 
River. This we soon learned was a river 
road in name only. To our dismay it afforded 
us but infrequent views of the Hudson. Dis- 
appointed, we tried the lower roads which 
skirt the river. These not being continuous, 
we returned to the State Road and followed 
it to Poughkeepsie, a distance of seventy-four 
miles from Albany. From here we expected 
we would no longer have to content ourselves 

89 



Retracing the Pioneers 

with occasional glimpses of the river, but not 
until we reached Peekskill, thirty-four miles 
further south, did we get unobstructed views 
of the Hudson. Travelling through a suc- 
cession of villages we were soon in sight of the 
Palisades, and entered the City of New York 
at Two Hundred and Thirtieth Street, thence 
to the Riverside Drive, which we followed to 
its end, on to the busy thoroughfares, and 
with 148.9 miles for the day we pulled up at 
our hotel in Times Square. Our run across 
the American Continent was accomplished. 
With a registered mileage of 4088.5 miles 
the machine was delivered at the wharf ready 
for the crate which was to house it on its 
voyage across the Atlantic, and we were 
looking forward to our European trip which 
was to follow. 



90 




TIMES SQUARE, NEW YORK CITY 



Transcontinental Itinerary 




OUR ROUTE FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO NEW YORK 



Transcontinental Itinerary 

June i, 1909. 
Roads good; several grades 

TIME MILES 

8.00 A. M. San Francisco, Cal. (Mission Dolores) 

via Mission Road 

9.00 San Mateo 18.8 

10.21 San Jose 49. 

11.28 Gilroy 77.2 

San Juan via San Juan Grade 

1.05 P. M. Salinas io 5-5 

3.05 Soledad 130. 

4.50 Jolon - - - 167. 

via Indian Valley .... 

San Miguel 

7.45 Paso Robles 221.5 

221.5 

June 2, 1909. 
Good and bad roads. Many gullies along the coast. Some grades. 

8.13 A.M. Paso Robles 

9.58 San Luis Obispo 3°- 2 

11.02 Arroyo Grande via Pismo . . . . 46.2 

11.55 Nipomo 54-5 

12.25 P.M. Santa Maria 61.5 

4.18 Los Olivos 95-6 

8.15 Santa Barbara via Gaviota . . . 147.8 

369-3 

June 3, 1909. 

Two grades. Roads good. 

8.35 A.M. Santa Barbara 

10.42 Ventura 33-& 

2.10 P. M. Los Angeles, cor. 4th and Spring Streets 107 . 9 

477-2 

95 



Retracing the Pioneers 



TIME 

7.00 A. M. 

7-55 
io-55 
12.10 P. M. 

3-i5 



5.20 A. M. 
6.20 



10.30 
11.30 

2.30 P. M. 

4.20 

5-5o 



Fair roads. 



Los Angeles, June 4, 1909. 

June 5, 1909. 
Fair roads. 



Los Angeles 

Fernando 

Palmdale via Soledad Canvon 

Del Sur '. 

Willow Springs .... 
Mojave 



21.9 

68.9 

84- 

100.5 

114. 6 



1.8 



June 6, 1909. 
Poor roads. Many stretches of sand. 

Mojave 

Cinco 

Ricardo 

Grape Vine 

Little Lake 

Haiwee 

Olancha 

Lone Pine 



17 

26 

53 

67 

- - 84 

93 

116 

Independence 132 



7 2 4-3 

June 7, 1909. 

Several grades. Toll at Toll House, White Mountains. 



6-55 A 

8.50 
10. 10 
11.20 
12.25 



M. 



4.00 
6.15 



Independence 

Big Pine 27 

White Mountains (Toll House) . . 35 

Gilbert Ranch 53 

P. M. Oasis, Cal 65 

California-Nevada line 67 

Silver Peak, Nevada 91 

Goldfield 128 



June 8, 1909. 
Fair roads. 



10.30 A.M. Goldfield 
12.00 noon Tonopah 



25.6 



852-5 



878.1 



96 



Transcontinental Itinerary 

June 9, 1909. 
Sand for short stretches; good and bad roads. 

TIME MILES 

5.05 A.M. Tonopah 

6.40 Stone Cabin 36.8 

8.35 Warm Springs 52.6 

9.12 Twin Springs 62.6 

12.56 P. M. Blue Eagle 114.5 

2.55 Curry Creek 127. 1 

5.40 Barnes I 53-6 

7.15 Elv 181. 

7.25 East Ely 182.6 

1060.7 

June 10, 1909. 

Good roads. 

2.30 P. M. East Ely 

3.20 McGill 11. 4 

5.13 Schellbourne 40 .3 

8.15 Tippett 67.7 

1 1 28. 4 

June ii, 1909. 

Alkali flats, ditches and generally poor roads. 

7.50 A.M. Tippett, Nevada 

9.15 Nevada-Utah line 19.2 

10.07 Deep Creek, Utah 23.5 

10.15 Ibapah 25.2 

12.15 P.M. Callao (Willow Springs) .... 49.4 

3.30 Fish Springs (Thomas) 70 .9 

II99-3 

June 12, 1909. 

Fair desert roads. 

5.15 A.M. Fish Springs (Thomas) 

10.05 Simpson 41 .1 

4.00 P.M. Lookout 57.1 

6.45 Vernon 65.6 

1264.9 

Vernon, June 13, 1909. 

97 



Retracing the Pioneers 



TIME 
2. 50 P. 
3-30 

4-15 
4.40 

5- 2 5 
5-35 
5-4o 
6.30 



io. 10 A. 

10.45 
11.07 
11.25 

ii-35 
11.50 
12.10 P. 
12.25 



3-38 

4-05 

5- 

5-45 

6. 

7-i5 
7-5o 
8.10 

8-35 



8.40 A. 

io-55 

ii-45 
1. 10 P. 

3-5o 
6-55 



June 14, 1909. 
Fair Roads. 

MILES 

M. Vernon 

Ajax 11. 6 

Stockton 25.5 

Tooele 3 x -9 

Lakepoint 46.2 

Smelter 48.4 

Garfield 50.2 

Salt Lake City 66.2 



Salt Lake City, June 15, 1909. 
June 16, 1909. 
Roads fair and good. 

M. Salt Lake City 

Bountiful 



Farmington 15 



Kaysville 

Layton 

Clearfield 



M. Riverdale 33 

Ogden 36 

Riverdale 40 

Peterson 56 

Morgan 64 

Devil's Slide 72 

Henefer 79 

Echo 83 

Castle Rock 99 

Wahsatch, Utah 107 

Utah-Wyo. Line 113 

Evanston, Wyo 117 



1448. J 



June 17, 1909. 
Roads bad and very bad; many gullies (washes). 

M. Evanston 

So. Cumberland ' . 32 

No. Cumberland 34 

Glencoe 4° 

M. Opal 58 

Granger 83 

Marston Wash 93 

Green River 116 

Rock Springs 131 



98 



1580. 



7 


45 A 


9 


20 


i 


P 


2 


45 


3 


15 


3 


5° 


4 


25 


7 


05 


8 


°5 



Transcontinental Itinerary 

June 18, 1909. 
Stretches of sand; number of gullies; bad roads. 

Mil 

M. Rock Springs 

Point of Rocks 25.2 

M. Bitter Creek 47.8 

Table Rock 57-6 

Tipton 64.4 

Red Desert . 71.6 

Wamsutter 80.4 

Daly Ranch io 9-5 

Rawlins I2 3- 



June 19, 1909. 



1703. 1 



Fair and good roads; very bad roads; detour of 40 miles owing to 
{Rawlins to Hanna). 



1760.5 



8.35 A.M. Rawlins 

12.05 P.M. Saratoga 39- 2 

2.25 Schoojan's Ranch 53.3 

5. Elk Mtns. (open country) .... 57-4 



June 20, 1909. 

Roads very bad. 

6.15 A.M. Elk Mtns. (open country) .... 

11.35 Hanna 25 

1.05 P.M. Carbon 36 

1.50 - Medicine Bow 47 

3 . 10 Ware Ranch 50 

5.10 Rock River 66 

8.35 Laramie 121 



June 21, 1909. 
Roads generally not bad; bad in spots. 

12.45 P- M- Laramie 

1.35 Tie Siding 18.3 

2.15 Sherman 25.8 

Buford 31.5 

3.15 Granite Canyon 39-7 

4.30 Cheyenne 58.5 



99 



1940.7 



TIME 

9.25 A. M. 
11.33 
12.15 p - M. 

1.20 

1.50 

2-15 
4-25 
5-25 



Retracing the Pioneers 

June 22, 1909. 
Roads good when it does not rain. 

MILES 

Cheyenne 

E g bert 32.3 

Pine Bluff, Wyo 42.2 

Smeed, Neb 48. 

Bushnell 52.6 

Kimball 75.1 

Potter 93 . z 

Sidney 111.6 



2052.3 



June 23, 1909. 
Roads good when it does not rain. 



7.15 A. M. 


Sidney 


8.20 


Lodge Pole 


8-55 


Chappell . 


10.25 


Big Springs 


11.25 


Brule . . 


ii-55 


Ogallala . 


2. P.M. 


Paxton 


2-35 


Sutherland 


4-i5 


No. Platte 


5-25 


Bignell . 


7.10 


Gothenburg 



37 
59 


5 
2 


72 


9 


«3 


3 


103 


7 


"5 


S 


138 


9 


152 


5 


177. 





2229.3 



June 24, 1909. 
Roads good when it does not rain. 

7.15 A.M. Gothenburg 

7.55 Cozad «... 13.9 

9.15 Lexington 31.9 

1. 50 P.M. Elm Creek . 56.1 

2.30 Frisco-Boston Sign 68. 

2.50 Kearny 72.2 

3.30 Shelton 91.2 

3.55 Wood River 99. 

4-40 Grand Island 117. 6 

100 



2346-9 



Transco?itinental Itinerary 



June 25, 1909. 
Roads good zvhen it does not rain. 

MILES 

Grand Island 

Chapman 12.9 

Central City 23.2 

Clarks 34 . 1 

Silver Creek 45-2 

Columbus . 04-9 

Benton 73.5 

Schuyler 81.4 

Rogers 89.5 

Fremont 112. 2 

Waterloo I 3°-S 

Elkhorn J 33-6 

Omaha I 5°-5 

2497.4 

Omaha, Neb., June 26 and 27, 1909. 

June 28, 1909. 

Toll Missouri River bridge; "Gumbo" roads are almost impassable 

when it rains. 
11. 15 A. M. 
11.35 
1.45 P.M. 
2.40 
3-55 
5-i5 
8.15 





riME 




7 
8 

9 

10 


-45 A. 

•30 
.20 
.00 


M. 


ro 
12 


-45 

.00 Noon 


2 
4 


55 P- 
15 


M. 


5 
6 


45 

35 





Omaha, Nebraska 

Council Bluffs, Iowa 5.1 

Honey Creek 18.3 



Missouri Valley 
Logan 
Woodbine 
Arion . 



27-3 
36.6 

47-3 
7 2 -3 



June 29, 1909. 
Roads good if it does not rain. "Gumbo Soil." 

8.05 A.M. Arion 

8.50 Dennison 8 

10.20 Vail 18 

11. 15 West Side 24 

12.10 P.M. Carroll 37 

1.20 Glidden 44 

2. Scranton 56 

2.40 Jefferson 06 

3. Grand Junction 74 

3.50 Ogden 85 

6.15 Boone 95 

101 



2569.7 



2665.3 



Retracing the Pioneers 

June 30, 1909. 
Roads good if it does not rain. "Gumbo soil." From Tama roads 



M. 



TIME 

8.05 A 

9-3° 
10.10 
11.25 
12.15 p - M 



2-45 



4- 
5-45 



7- 


25 A. M 


7- 


5° 


8. 


25 


9- 




9-35 


IG. 


30 


IO 


55 


II 


20 


12 


30 P. M 


2 




3 




3 


45 


4 


20 


5 


10 


5 


40 


6 


.20 


7 


-45 


9 


-30 


10 


.20 



MILES 



Boone . 
Ames . 
Nevada 
State Center . 
Marshalltown 
Le Grand 
Montour . 
Tama . . 
Gladstone 
Chelsea 
Belle Plaine 



1 5 
24 

39 
54 
64 
69 
80 
85 
9 1 
100 



Cedar Rapids 136 

July i, 1909. 



2801, 



Toll: Mississippi River — Lyon-Fulton bridge; roads good. 

Cedar Rapids 

Marion 5.8 

Mt. Vernon 18.9 

Mechanicsville 30.2 

Clarence 41.2 

Lowden 49-8 

Wheatland 55-9 

Grand Mound 66.1 

Clinton, Iowa 91-3 

Fulton, 111 94-6 

Morrison 106.6 

Sterling 121. 2 

Dixon 134.5 

Ashton 149. 

Rochelle 160. 

De Kalb 177.5 

Geneva . 203 . 

West Chicago 208.7 

Maywood 227.8 

Chicago (Michigan and Jackson Blvds) 240. 



Chicago, III., July 2 and 3, 1909. 

102 



3°4i-3 



Transcontinental Itinerary 

July 4, 1909. 
Roads good; traveled via Michigan City; via La Porte the shorter run. 

MILES 

Chicago, 111 

Hammond, Ind 24.2 

Hobart 42.4 

Valparaiso 55-4 

Westville 

Michigan City 

2. P.M. South Bend '. 112. 1 

4-35 Goshen 136. 

3177-3 

July 5, 1909. 

Roads good. 

7.10 A.M. Goshen 

8. Ligonier 17.7 

Wawaka 24. 

8.50 Kendallville 36. 

Waterloo 50. 

Butler, Ind 58. 

Edgerton, Ohio 64.8 

1.05 Bryan 76.4 

Archbold 91.3 

Wauseon 101.4 

3.05P.M. Toledo : 143-4 

Woodville 161. 8 

5.25 Fremont 176.4 

3353-7 

July 6, 1909. 

Toll at Conneaut river bridge; roads good. 

M. Fremont 

Clyde 7.5 

Castalia 18. 1 

Huron 33.1 

Vermillion 44 -i 

Lorain 54-6 

Rocky River 73.1 

Cleveland 81. 1 

Willoughby 99.4 

Painesville 109.8 

Geneva 126.7 

Ashtabula 135.7 

Conneaut, Ohio 149.6 

W. Springfield, Pa 153.6 

Girard 163. 

Fairview 166.8 

Erie 179-3 

3533-0 



Retracing the Pioneers 



July 7, 1909. 
Roads good. 



TIME 

7.50 A. M. Erie, Pa 

8-35 

8-45 

9-i5 

9-5° 
10.25 
12. Noon 



MILES 



Northeast . 
State Line, N. Y. 
Westfield . . 
Fredonia . 
Silver Creek . 
Buffalo . . 



15- 

18.6 

30-3 
45 - 1 
56.6 

9*-3 



7.40 A. M. 
9-35 



11.30 

2.45 P.M. 

3-3° 

4-i5 
5-05 
6.30 



Buffalo, N. Y., July 8 and 9, 1909. 

July 10, 1909. 

Roads good. 

Buffalo 

Batavia 

Bergen 

Churchville 

Rochester 

Mendon 

Victor 

Canandaigua 

Geneva 

Waterloo 

Seneca Falls 

Auburn 

Syracuse 



3624.3 



38 

54 

57 

74 

9 1 

96 

106 

122 

129 

132 

147 

172 



3797-2 



July ii, 1909. 
Roads good. 
Two toll stations between Syracuse and Fayetteville (Stone road); toll 
crossing Mohawk river at Schenectady. 

9. A. M. Syracuse 

Fayetteville 7.2 

Utica 48.8 

Herkimer 63.9 

Little Falls . 71. 

St. Johnsville 81.7 

Fonda 101.6 

Amsterdam 112. 1 

Schenectady 127.8 

Albanv 142.4 



12 




Noon 


12 


40 


P.M. 


2 






3 


40 




4 


20 




5 


15 




5 


50 





104 



3939-6 



Transcontinental Itinerary 

July 12, 1909. 

Toll crossing Hudson river; roads good, mostly macadam. The u Post 
Road" along the Hudson does not afford any view of the 
Hudson river until Poughkeepsie is reached. 

TIME MILES 

7.50A.M. Albany 

7.57 Rensselaer 1.4 

9.10 Kinderhook 20.8 

10.05 Hudson 33 - 1 

11.20 Rhinebeck 57-8 

1.10P. M. Poughkeepsie 73-9 

3.10 Peekskill 107.6 

5.15 Yonkers I 34- 1 

6.15 New York City (Times Square) . . 148.9 

4088.5 

Record of mileage somewhat inaccurate owing to detours often 
necessary. 

Time record does not show delays. 

Total mileage: 4088.5. 

Running time: 315 hours 37 minutes. 

Gas consumed: 449 gallons. 

Oil consumed: 48 j gallons. 



105 



H3^ * 5 



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HECKMAN 

BINDERY INC. 

^ JAN 85 

M* N. MANCHESTER, 




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